My Mate, Charlie

T E N

Charlie

"Mason!" I whined, almost tripping over another log. "How much longer!" I stump over a rock, huffing in annoyance. The courteous curtsy dress I wore had small dirt spots on the hems, the aqua color no longer clean and crisp. I usually don't wear dresses, but today felt like a dress type of day. I've always loved the cool breeze. Washington is just perfect for me.

"Come here," Groaning I catch up to Mason who's smiling his head off. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes." I state. There was no hesitation, I will always trust Mason.

"Okay, now, just hold tight." In one swift motion I was lifted up into the arms of my best friend.

"Mason!" I squeal gripping his arms. "I'm too heavy! Put me down!" Mason just laughs, walking down a hill, my body jumping in his arms as he quickly runs down with ease.

"Trust me, you're light as a feather." My cheeks burn in embarrassment. I know he's just saying that to make me feel better. "Okay, here we are." Suddenly the trees around us fade out and the sound of clashing water finds my ears.

I gasp as the beautiful river comes into my view. There was large cliff like hill made of large rocks, water fall falling from within the large rocks creating a beautiful waterfall that clashed peacefully into the crystal clear river bank below. The hill had to be about 20 feet tall.

"Oh my gosh! It's beautiful!" Mason set me down and immediately I ran to the river, careful with the large rocks and gravel decorating the ground. There was large boulders in the middle of the bank, water flowing peacefully around them. Looking down the current I see it carry further into the woods. "Can you swim in it?" It looked so clear but I could barely tell the depth.

"No not here, if you keep going down it gets deeper till you reach the drop off." Widening my eyes I look back at Mason who's standing off to the side watching me closely.

"Drop off? Like Finding Nemo?" I joke. Mason always loved that stupid movie, he always made references. He laughs out loud, the type to throw your head back and hold your stomach.

"No, more like a much larger and dangerous cliff. Every once in a while me and some guys will go and jump off." My eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets.

"Jump!? That's dangerous!" Mason just shrugs opening his mouth to speak but suddenly his posture changes. His whole body goes rigid and I swear I saw his normal brown eyes flash yellow, but I couldn't tell with the sun blocking my sight.

"Charlie, get back here." Mason stomps forward his muscles tensed under his shirt making him appear larger than before.

"Mason what's-" A loud growl cuts me off. The kind of growl that shakes your bones and makes the hairs on your body stand to attention. It was an animalistic growl. My body is pushed behind Mason, the sound of twigs breaking and heavy thuds shook my curiosity to peek around Mason. I can feel him vibrating, but I'm so intrigued by what's on the other side of Mason, I completely ignored all the warning signs.

I knew I should have never looked.

In front of Mason was three wolves. But not just any ordinary wolves. The big large kind, the ones the size of a horse. The kind of wolves that killed my father.